RF Systems Design Engineer

Shaping the future through innovation and discovery

With a history spanning more than seven decades, Communications & Power Industries’ thousands of products have impacted people’s lives in numerous unseen ways every day. Our highly engineered products serve as the backbone of modern-day commercial and military communications systems, aid in the treatment of cancer, assist in diagnosing medical conditions, support and protect soldiers, sailors, and pilots, empower scientific discoveries and space exploration, help ensure the safety of imported foods and materials, and much more.

CPI is headquartered in Palo Alto, California and is a global manufacturer of electronic components and subsystems. We have manufacturing locations in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. With a heritage of technological excellence, our team serves customers in the communications, defense, medical, industrial, and scientific markets.

Job Overview

Communications & Power Industries (CPI) has an immediate opening for a Senior RF Systems Engineer to join our Plano, TX team in the CPI SATCOM and Antenna Technologies (SAT) division. This position provides an opportunity to develop and implement SATCOM RF technologies for complex communication systems that support some of our nation's fundamental defense and space services.

CPI employees work closely with our clients to develop solutions that allow them to carry out secure departmental missions as well as commercial ground-to-orbit satellite communications. The selected candidate will collaborate with numerous teams to create, manage, and implement various CPI and client technologies.

In addition to receiving a competitive salary with generous health and personal benefits, the Senior RF Systems Design Engineer - Antenna Systems will enhance their skill-set among a talented and technically accomplished group of colleagues working closely with engineers from other disciplines including servo, software, mechanical, production, and test personnel. This position is responsible for designing multiple types of ground based satellite antenna systems from mobile, small aperture units to large 34m fixed stations. These systems are used for specific commercial and government applications domestically as well as internationally. The candidate will have the opportunity to be a key contributor in developing radio telescopes, deep space communications systems, and programs designed to help protect our national interests. This opportunity provides you with the ability to work with a small, focused team of highly experienced engineers and managers.

Key Technical Performance Requirements

• Produce proposal responses for Earth station antenna systems including antenna and satellite standards research, generation of system specifications, engineering schedules, budgets, Work Breakdown Structures (WBSs), resource allocations, specification responses, and design documentation
• Generate cascade performance prediction analyses (i.e. Noise Figure, Gain, IP3, TOI, 1-dB compression, spurious response, group delay) through frequency conversion, perform satellite to Earth station terminal and terminal to satellite link budgets for VSAT, SOTM, and large aperture antenna systems
• Generate engineering documentation including Bill of Materials (BOMs), schematics, RF system block diagrams, test procedures, technical memos, test reports, power consumption analyses, rack layouts, cabling diagrams to support program execution
• Technical writing ability to clearly explain the concept and implementation of the product or solution you are developing and how it satisfies the requirements
• Presentation skills necessary via Microsoft PowerPoint for customer attended design reviews
• Must possess RF analysis and trouble-shooting skills including RFI mitigation and OET Bulletin 65
• Theoretical analysis of key antenna performance contributors
• Theoretical analysis of digital modulations including but not limited to BPSK, QPSK, OQPSK, and coding techniques
• End-to-end antenna system testing for gain, gain variation, group delay, 1-dB compression, TOI, spurious response, G/T, EIRP, and antenna pattern measurements
• Customer witnessed system integration and on site testing for performance verification
• WGS Certification Experience with Military Standard 188-164C and ARSTRAT Phase 1 and 2 testing

Representative Duties and Tasks

• Performs requirements analysis, requirements definition, requirements management, functional analysis, performance analysis, system design, detail trade studies, systems integration and test (verification), validation and interface definition studies of system, subsystem or system elements with minimal supervision of the lead systems engineer
• Performs technical planning, cost and risk analyses, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for subsystems and system elements
• Performs customer requirements analysis, develops system requirements and defines allocations to lower levels (subsystem, elements and components)
• Performs detailed technical analyses for a system, subsystem or system elements
• Develops and evaluates systems, RF networks, and information systems to ensure designs meet applicable governmental security specifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, or a related specialized area of RF communications is required
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, or a Master's Degree with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience
• Candidate must be able to obtain a U.S. Department of Defense Confidential security clearance within a reasonable amount of time from date of hire. THe person selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. Citizenship is required.

WHAT WE OFFER:

Whether you are a seasoned professional or just embarking on your career, CPI is an ideal place to expand your knowledge and expertise. We cultivate a healthy, dynamic, and team-oriented environment that empowers our employees to develop, create and deliver innovative, reliable technology solutions to power, connect, protect, and support a better tomorrow.

We offer our employees an attractive compensation package with competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including health and wellness programs, career development, generous retirement savings plan with company match and more

WHO WE ARE:

We value the unique and diverse skills, qualities, and backgrounds that each employee brings to CPI, and we respect each employee as an integral member of our growing team. CPI is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all current and prospective employees, as well as to promoting a culture of inclusion and respect for everyone. We celebrate the innovation that diversity creates in the work environment, and we recognize that each employee brings their own unique capabilities, experiences, and perspectives to the organization. It is this variety that adds value to our teams, as well as to our stakeholders. We welcome and encourage applicants to reach their full potential with us.

CPI is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability or other applicable legally protected characteristics.